Rotary take-up means for sewing machines



June 13, 1950 f C. F; RUBEL Y 2,511,081

ROTARY TAKE-UP MEANS FOR SEWING MACHINES June 13, 1950 c. F. RUBEL 2,511,081

ROTARY TAKE-UP MEANS Foa SEWING MACHINES Filed Oct. 10, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 y FIG. 2. g d

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BW EW TTORNEY June 13, 1950 l c. F. RUBEL 2,511,081

ROTARY TAKE-UP MEANS FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed oct. 1o, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jil: ai

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1 www AT TOR Y June 13, 1950 c. F. RUBEL 2,511,081

ROTARY TAKEUP MEANS EoR SEWING MACHINES Filed Oct. 10, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 June 13, 1950 c. F. RUBEL ROTARY TAKE-UP NEANs EoR sEwING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 oen kan,

Filed Oct. 10, 1946 ATTOENEY Patented June 13, 1950 UNITED ROTARY TAKE-UP MEANS FoR SEWING MACHINES Charles F. Rubel, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Union Special Machine Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application October 10, 1946, Serial No. 702,483

9 claims. 1

The present invention relates to an improved take-up mechanism for sewing machines. and more particularly to a take-up of the rotary type applied to a lockstitch machine for the control of the needle thread thereto.

The invention is herein disclosed as embodied in a preferred form in a lockstitch sewing machine of the .general type consisting of a reciprocatory eye needle and a rotary looper which is driven through two revolutions for each needle reciprolcation. The needle thread take-up mechanisrn of the machine, consists of a rotary thread take-up plate having a cam-like thread engaging edge across which the thread is drawn, a rotary take-up element rotatable with the take-up plate in a circular orbit, and a relatively stationary take-up element cooperating therewith. The cam-like take-up member and the orbitally moving element operate in combination to produce an efficient take-up action which is closely adjusted to the operation of the rapidly moving rotary hook. Machines of the general type described, are adapted for operation at extremely high speeds which may approximate rive to six thousand stitches and upward per minute.

it is a principal object of the present invention to provide an improved housing and supporting means for a take-up of this general description, which will fully enclose and will shield the moving parts of the take-up mechanism to the fullest extent, thereby avoiding any tendency toward concentrating or chanelling the flow of air created by the rapid movement of the takeup parts which might tend to increase the operating load or to interfere with the proper handling of the thread. The arrangement is, further, particularly adapted to prevent lint or thread from being drawn into the take-up housing or being blown outwardly to annoy the operator. Moreover, the moving parts of the take-up are so shielded from view as not to distract the operator, and the operator is thoroughly protected against entanglement of hair, head, or fingers.

It is another object to provide a thread takeup mechanism of the general type indicated, having an improved housing with the foregoing advantages and which is so formed as to provide ready access to the devices within for the threading of the take-up in a simple and easy manner. Specifically, in accordance with the invention, applicant provides an improved arrangement of the needle thread take-up mechanism, including the above indicated improved construction of the housing assembly and an arrangement of certain the needle thread handling devices, including the take-up, for rapid and easy threading without Ythe necessity for removing or disassembling machine parts or of threading through eyelets in such parts of the mechanism where breakage is most likely to take place.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will appear from a detailed description of an illustrative form of the same which Will now be given in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal, vertical section through the illustrative machine taken substantially along the line l--l of Fig. 3;

Fig. 2 is a view in left end elevation of the machine, but with the cover plate for the sewing head and the take-up mechanism removed to show underlying parts;

Fig. 3 is a View in left end elevation of the machine, a portion of the work supporting base having been broken away and sectioned to illustrate the rotary hook and work feeding de- Vices;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary View, on an enlarged scale, in front elevation of the sewing head, i1- lustrating particularly the needle thread control and take-up devices;

Fig. 5 is a detail view, looking from the right in Fig. 4, of the needle thread take-up housing with the associated thread guides removed from the machine;

Fig. 6 is a view in left end elevation` of the needle thread take-up mechanism with the outer cover removed and a part of the housing in section, the parts being shown in the position assuined when the needle is through the work and the rotary hook is at the beginning of its loop seizing stroke; and

Fig, 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6, but with the inner cover plate for the cam-like rotary takeup member removed, and with the supporting arm for the stationary thread positioning element broken away.

The invention has been illustrated in connection with a lockstitch sewing machine of the type shown and described in the Christensen and Rubel Patent No. 2,113,572, granted April l2, 1938. This machine comprises a main frame having a lbase portion it providing a'work supporting surface and a vertical standard l2 from the upper end of which extends a substantially horizontal overhanging arm lil. Power is supplied to the machine through a combined hand Wheel and pulley l secured to the outer end oi a shaft I8 mounted to turn in bearings provided in standard I2 and overarm IE. Shaft I8 extends substantially the full length of the overhanging arm into a needle head 24 at the free end of the arm. By means of a crank 25 mounted on the end of the shaft I8 at the needle head, power is transmitted through a pitman 2B to a needle bar til adapted for vertical reciprocation in suitable bearings. At its lower end the needle bar is provided with a thread-carrying needle 32.

Power is also transmitted from the shaft I8 to various operating means withinfthe base of the machine. For this purpose a gear 34 secured to the shaft within the upper, end of the standard meshes with an idler gear 36 which in turn meshes with a pinion 38 secured to a shaft 40 mounted in suitable bearings in the base. A gear 42 secured to the shaft dil at -an-intermediate point, meshes with a pinion Alli secured to a hook shaft 45. At the outer end of this shaft there is mounted the rotary component of a rotary hook S which may be of any suitable construction. The gearing i2 and lill is such that the hook shaft IE5 will be given two revolutions foreach revolution of the shaft 4U. Accordingly, Vthe rotary component of the hook will be given two revolutions for each reciprocation of the needle 32 in the formation of stitches. Also driven by the shaft fit, by connections not fully disclosed, but similar to those provided in said Christensen and Rubel patent, is a four-motion feed dog 50 mounted on a feed bar 52. The latter is pivotally connected with a feed rocker 55 adapted to be oscillated by theshaft i0 to produce the feeding and return movements of the feed dog. Other means operated by the shaft 4Q are provided for lifting and lowering the feed dog in properly timed relation. For further details as to any of the foregoing construction, reference may be had to said Christensen and Rubel patent.

Cooperating with the feed dog is a presser foot 55 carried by a vertically disposed presser bar 56 which is yieldably urged downwardly by` aspring 58 acting against a collar 6I) secured to the presser bar. Lifting of the presser bar may be accomplished in any suitablemanner to enable the introduction and removal of the work. .Mea-ns for this purpose may be controlled manually or by foot treadle operation, or both. Raising of the presser bar may, for example, be accomplished by a lever 62 supported on a presserfoot rock shaft 64 and having a pin and slot connection with a link $65 which at its lower end is connected by a pin E8 with a sleeve 'I9 slidable on thepresser bar 55. Rocking movement of shaft 64 may be effected by means of a laterally extending arm 'l2 on shaft 64 and a treadle-actuated rod 14.

r,The needle thread take-up mechanism provided with the illustrated machine, consists of a thread take-up drive shaft 'l5 (Figs. 1 and 2) supported by a bearing sleeve TI and connected to be driven from the shaft I8 through gears I8 and 8B mounted respectively on the two shafts. The construction is such that for each revolution of the shaft i3, there will be onerevolution of the shaft le. The outer end of the latter is formed with a flange 82 which is preferably integral with the shaft. To the flange 82 is secured a rotary take-up member 84, the latter being attached in any suitable way, as by screws 86 (see Figs. 6 and 7) The member 34 is of iiat plate-like construction, and has its outer edge in the form of a smooth cam surface. The member 84 is so shaped as to constitute a two-lobed cam. To reduce the weight of the member as much as possible, it is cut out to a substantial extent, and may suitably 84 is rotated about the axis of shaft 16.

.shaft '16, is provided completely across the outer end of the element 95. This slot is quite deep, and may suitably extend about two-thirds of the distance from the outer end of the element toward the member 8d. The peripheral surface of element 9B is oval in cross section, and is of reduced circumference intermediate its ends. It tapers inwardly from the outer and inner ends of the element in hour-glass fashion, and thus provides a cavity or depression having its root or bottom |136 (Fig. l) in a central plane into which the thread will naturally fall as it is picked up by the element.

The thread is supported at times, during movement of the rotary take-up element Q5, in the orbital path ofthe latter by means of a stationary thread positioning element 01 which, as best shown in Fig. 6, consists of an angled plate having a supporting portion parallel with the member S6 and an inwardly projecting, bent-over portion arcuately shaped and positioned to pass through the slot lili) in the rotary take-up element 9d. The upper end of the inwardly projecting portion is formed with a relatively deep thread positioning notch 68. Lower edge Illa of the inwardly projecting portion of element IO'I serves as a thread throw-off by camming the thread outwardly over the end of element 96 in the event of breakage of the thread and winding of it on the take-up element Q. A knife element H39 is effective at this'time to sever the thread. Inasmuch as a take-up mechanism embodying a cam-like take-up member, an orbital take-up element, a stationary positioning element and a thread throw-off and severing knife, substantially as above described, 'has been fully described and claimed in the application of Charles F. Rubel, Serial No. 581,980, led on March 10, 1945, now Patent No. 2,446,245, granted August 3, 1948, further detailed description of the operation of this mechanism is believed unnecessary.

In the improved form of needle thread take-up mechanism shown, the take-up member B4 is wholly enclosed by a hood, the rear wall of which is formed by a plate HE) secured to the end face of the needle head by screws II'2 (Fig. 3). The outer peripheral wall of the hood takes the form of an arcuate band H4 which extends substantially around the take-up member 8i. in a full circle, except for a short section through which passes a bracket I hereinafter more fully to be described. The band I I6 is formed integrally with the plate I I9 and is preferably curved in an axial direction also, as best shown in Fig. 4. The rotary take-up member S6 is partially enclosed at its outer side by means of a plate or inner cover H8 of circular outer contour, to t within the band I I4, and having the middle portion thereof cut out to provide a large central opening which extends outwardly to the periphery of the plate over approximately one-quarter of the circumference of the housing. Plate II8 is secured to the housing or hood by means of machine screws I20 which pass through the plate and are screw-threaded into ears |22 carried by the peripheral enclosing band I'I4. The plate I I3 encloses the outer peripheral portions of the take-up member 84, and has the center portion thereof cut away sufficiently to avoid interference with the orbital take-up element 96. An outer cover |24 shields and substantially encloses the central portion of the outer face of the hood. It is, however, separated from the cover IIB for convenience of threading and for permitting free discharge of the air currents produced by the orbitally movable take-up element 96.

The bracket I I6 referred to, is bolted by means of screws |26 to the plate I I0, is constructed and arranged to enclose the lower portion of the compartment within which the rotary take-up member 84 is mounted, and provides support for a number of associated parts of the take-up assembly including the outer cover |24 which is secured to the bracket by screws |26. The bracket I It provides support also for the thread positioning element |91 and the thread severing knife E09. The thread positioning element I01 is formed with a downwardly extending shank portion secured by screws |34 to an upward extension of the bracket IIE. This shank portion is provided with an elongated slot |35 of slightly greater width than the diameter of the screws |34 so that the element |01 is capable of adjustment to a limited extent both longitudinally and transversely of the slot |35 and angularly about either of the screws |34, to insure proper cooperation with the element 96. The thread severing or knife element |99 is provided with an offset shank portion, which is fastened by a screw |38 to the forward edge of bracket I I6, and with a projecting end which extends through an aperture |40 formed in the positioning member |01. In the illustrated form of the invention, the bracket II6 is further provided at its upper end with an extension in which is formed a transverse slot providing a self-threading thread guide |42 which serves to guide the thread passing from the camlike edge of the take-up member 84 to the notch |98 in the positioning element |01 and to the rotary take-up element 96. A guard or cover plate |44 fastened by screws |46 to the forward edge of the bracket I I6 encloses a portion of the casing not enclosed by the plate I I8 and may be regarded as a continuation of this inner cover.

The needle thread is drawn from a spool or other source of supply to an apertured guide |50 secured to the plate III) of the take-up housing (Figs. 4 and 5). After traversing several holes in this guide, the thread is passed around a thread tensioning device |52, which may be of conventional construction, over a check wire |54 forming part ofthe thread tensioning device, and then around a thread guide |56 provided by a crooked downwardly extending arm. The thread guide |56 and the thread guide |42 above referred to, provide support for the thread at opposite sides of the take-up member 84, and cooperate with the cam'ming edge of said member to exert a take-up action upon the thread. From an inspection particularly of Figs. 3, 4, and 5, it will be noted that the stationary thread guides |56, |42 are disposed adjacent to and are readily accessible, respectively, from the outside of the rear wall or plate IID of the housing, and from outside of the guard plate II8 forming the forward wall of the housing for the rotary take-up member 34. A slot or aperture designated at |58 (Figs. 4 and 5) is formed in the housing and extends inwardly through the peripheral band ||4 and plate IIn with its throat approximately in line with the stationary thread guides |56, |42. A similar aperture is formed in the guard surface enclosing the outer face of the take-up member 84 between the cover plate I |8 and the auxiliary cover plate |44. This aperture or slot is approximately in line with the guides |56, |42 and connects with the path of movement of the take-up element 96 (see particularly Fig. 6), so that free passage is permitted to the thread from the stationary thread guide |56 across the camming edge of the take-up member 84 to the thread guide |42. From the thread guide |42, the thread passes through or above the notch |08 in the thread positioning member |01, then around the rotary take-up element 96, and downwardly through a guide slot |60, formed in the band I I4 outwardly of the cover plate ||8, to the eye of the needle.

With the improved form of take-up device herein provided, the outer cover I 24 is constructed and arranged to cooperate with the associated rotary take-up element 96 in an improved and more eicient manner, to provide for an adequate control of the thread engaged by the take-up element and, at the same time, to avoid objectionable air currents in the casing. The improved form of outer cover has a surface |62 cooperating with and closely adjacent to the path of the outer end of the orbital take-up element 96. This portion of the cover which is of reduced thickness, continues outwardly to the edge of the cover. A relatively raised or thick inside portion of the outer cover, which is bounded by the surface |62, provides an annular thread guiding shoulder to position or retain the thread properly with relation to the rotary take-up element 96 and stationary thread positioning member |01. The improved construction, including the surface |62 extending to the outer periphery of cover |24, has the substantial advantage that it eliminates, or reduces to a minimum, the tendency of the takeup element 96 to act as a fan when moving at extremely high speeds. With the improved construction any air currents which may be generated by the rotation of the take-up element 96 are eifectively dissipated away from the operator and away from the regions in which it might interfere with the handling of the thread.

Theimproved construction of the needle thread take-up, as above described, 'moreoven has the advantage of providing a complete enclosure for all moving parts of the take-up, including the entire thread engaging edge of the rotary take-up member 04. At the same time, provision is made for rapid and easy threading of the take-up which eliminates any necessity for removing any parts or of passing the thread through closed thread eyes in this portion of the machine, where thread breakage is most likely to occur. With the illustrated construction, the threading of the takeup'is readily and quickly accomplished by passing a suitable length of the thread transversely under the end of the xed thread guide |56, through the open slot |58 and over the edge of the take-up member 84, into the slotted thread guide |40, then around the passage between the peripheral edge of the cover member |24 and the outer surface of plate I I8, thence through the slot |60, and finally downwardly to the needle which is threaded in the usual manner.

While an illustrative form of the invention has been described-in considerable detail, it will be .understood that numerous changes in the construction and arrangement of the several parts,

and in thegeneral application ofthe invention, may be made, Without departing from its principles and scope. The terms'and expressions used herein have been employed as terms of description and not of limitation.

What is claimed is:

1. In a sewing machine, needle thread take-up means comprising a rotary take-up member having a cam-like thread engaging edge, a take-up element'movable vwith said take-up member in an orbital path, a housing for said take-up means including a rear wall, a peripheralv wall substantially enclosing the edge of said take-up member, an inner cover enclosing outwardly disposed front face portions of said take-up member and substantially surrounding the axis thereof, and an outer cover overlying said orbitally movable take-up element, and spaced from the inner cover, said peripheral wall and rear wall and inner cover being formed to provide' an inwardly extending transverse thread receiving slot, and thread guiding means including a pair of stationary self-threading thread guides arranged at opposite sides of said take-up member along a line passing through said transverse slot for guiding the thread across the edge of the takeup member and thence to said take-up element.

2. In a sewing machine, needle thread takeup means comprising a rotary take-up member having a cam-like thread engaging edge, a takeup element movable with said take-up member in an orbital'path, a housing for said take-up member enclosing substantially the entire peripheral edge, the rear face and outer portion of the outer face of said member, an outer cover overlying said orbitallyl movable take-up element and spaced from said housing, said housing being formed with a transverse `thread receiving slot extending inwardly of said housing from its outer edge, and thread guiding means including a pair of stationary thread guides arranged at opposite sides of said take-up member along a line passing through said transverse slot for guiding the thread across the edge 'of the take-up member and thence to said take-up element.

3. In a sewing machine, needle thread take-up means comprising a rotary take-up member having a cam-like thread engaging edge, a take-up element mounted on the face of said take-up member for movement therewith in'an orbital path, a housing for said take-up member enclosing substantially the entire peripheral edge, the rear face and portions of the outer face of said member outwardly of the orbital path of said take-up element, an outer cover overlying said orbitally movable take-up element and spaced from said housing, said housing being formed with a transverse thread receiving slot lextending inwardly of said housing from the outside edge thereof and providing an unobstructed 'thread passage into the path of said rotary take-up member, and'thread guiding means including a pair of stationary self-threading thread guides arranged at opposite sides of said take-up member along a line' passing through said transverse slot for guiding the thread across the edge 'of the take-up member and thence to said take-up element.

4. In a sewing machine, needle thread take-up means comprising a rotary take-up member having a cam-like thread engaging edge, a take-up element mounted on the outer face'of said take-up member for movement therewith in an orbital path, a stationary thread supporting element in said orbital path, a housing for said take-up member enclosing substantially the Ventire peripheral edge, the rear face and portions of the outer face of said member outwardly of the orbital path of said-take-up element, an outer cover overlying said-orbitally movable take-up element and spaced from-said housing, a bracket supporting said stationary thread positioning element, and outer cover, said housing being formed with a transverse thread receiving slot extending inwardly of said housing from the outside edge thereof and providing an unobstructed passage into the path of said rotary take-up member, and thread guiding means including 'a thread guide at the rear face of the take-up member and a thread guide at'the outer face of the take-up member on said bracket in line with said transverse slot for guiding the thread across the edge of the take-up member and thence to said stationary thread supporting element and orbitally movable take-up element.

5. In a sewing machine, needle thread take-up means comprising a rotary take-up member havv ing a cam-like thread engaging edge, a take-up 'spaced from the housing, said housing being formed with a transverse thread receiving slot extending inwardly of the housing from the outside edge-thereof and providing an unobstructed passage into the path of said rotary take-up member, and thread guiding means including thread guides atv opposite sides of the take-up "member'in line with said transverse slot for guiding the thread across the edge of the take-up member and thence to said stationary thread Vsupporting element and orbitally movable take-up element.

6.'In a sewing machine, needle thread take-up means comprising a rotary take-up member hav- Ving a' cam-like thread engaging edge, a take-up element mounted on the face of said take-up member for movement therewith in an orbital path, astationary thread supporting element associated with said take-up element, a housing for said take-up member enclosing substantially the entire peripheral edge, the inner face and the outer face'of said member outwardly of the orbital pathof the take-up element, an outer cover overvlyingsaid `orbitally movable take-up element and spaced from said housing, said housing being formed with a transverse thread receiving slot extending inwardly of the housing from the outside edge thereofl and providing an unobstructed passage for the thread into the path of said take-up member, thread guiding means including selfvthreading thread guides at opposite sides of the take-up member in line with said transverse slot for lguiding the thread across the edge of the take-up member and thenceA to said stationary means comprisingfa rotary take-up member having 'a cam-like thread engaging edge, a take-up element supported for movement with said takeup member in an orbital path, a housing for said take-up member enclosing portions of the outer face of said member outwardly of the orbital path of said take-up element, guiding means including thread guides arranged to guide the thread across the edge of the taken-up member and thence to said take-up element, and an outer cover overlying said orbitally movable take-up element and spaced from said housing, said cover having an outer flat rim portion and a thicker central portion providing an annular shoulder extending inwardly Within the path of movement of said take-up element, said central portion providing a thread confining surface for retaining the thread on said take-up element.

8. In a sewing machine, needle thread take-up means comprising a rotary take-up member having a cam-like thread engaging edge, a take-up element supported on the outer face of said takeup member for movement therewith in an orbital path, a housing for said take-up member enclosing substantially the entire peripheral edge of said member and portions of the outer face thereof outwardly of the orbital path of said take-up element. said housing having formed therein a transverse thread receiving slot extending inwardly from the edge of the housing and providing an unobstructed passage to said take-up member, guiding means including thread guides arranged Yat opposite sides of said take-up member to guide the thread into said slot across the edge of the take-up member and thence into the path of said take-up element, and an outer cover overlying said orbitally movable take-up element spaced from said housing, said cover having a flat surface disposed adjacent and parallel with the orbital path of the outer end of said take-up element and having an annular shoulder extending inwardly within said orbital path, said outer cover .being arranged to cooperate with the radial inward side and the outer end of said take-up element to retain the thread thereon.

9. In a sewing machine, needlel thread takeup means comprising a rotary take-up member having a cam-like thread engaging edge, a takeup element supported on theouter face of said take-up member for movement therewith in an orbital path, a housing for said take-up member having a rim substantially completely surrounding the same, a support member extending through said rim and carrying radially inwardly thereof a thread guide arranged to direct the thread into the path of said element, a, thread retaining and removing element carried by said support in the path of said take-up element, and a thread severing element carried by said support in position to sever thread removed from said take-up element.

CHARLES F. RUBEL.

REFERENCE S CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,191,015 Madison July 11, 1916 2,385,960 zonis oet. 2, 1945 2,386,678 Backlin Oct. 9, 1945 2,400,602 Rubel May 21, 1946 Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,511,081 June 13, 1950 CHARLES F. RUBEL It is hereby certifled that errors appear in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Column 1, line 33, for the Word movement read movements; column 9, line 7, for taken-up read take-up; and that the said LetterePatent shouldbe read With these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Ofce.

Signed and sealed this 26th day of SeptemberrA. D. 1950.

[SEAL] THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant 'owwm'ssoner of Patents. 

